National Wellness Month encourages many people to focus on healthy eating and exercise, but experts say wellness is much broader than physical health alone.
Dr. Stephen Lahr with Family and Children’s Services joined News On 6 to discuss often overlooked parts of wellness, including emotional health, attention and social connections. He said taking a more complete approach to wellness can improve both mental and physical health.
Wellness is more than diet and exercise
Lahr said nutrition and physical activity remain important, but true wellness includes emotional, mental and social well-being.
He said chronic stress, social isolation and constant distractions can affect physical health just as much as poor nutrition or a lack of exercise.
“This Wellness Month is a great reminder to take a look at that whole picture and look at everything we just talked about and how you find balance in your daily life,” Lahr said.
He added that improving one area of wellness can often lead to healthier habits in others.
“Sometimes when I feel better, I eat better, and I’m more likely to exercise,” he said.
Attention health matters
Lahr said attention health refers to a person’s ability to focus and stay present.
He said many people constantly shift between phone calls, emails and social media notifications, creating mental fatigue.
While technology keeps people connected, he said it can also become overwhelming.
One simple way to reduce stress, he said, is limiting unnecessary notifications on a phone.
Strong relationships support better health
Lahr said social connectedness is another key part of overall wellness that is often overlooked.
He said healthy relationships can help reduce stress, improve mental health and even contribute to a longer lifespan.
“We get really busy, and it’s easy to assume that everyone just kind of knows that we’re thinking about them,” Lahr said. “But really taking that effort to call a friend, have lunch with a colleague, or reach out to family is very meaningful.”
He said wellness is not only about caring for yourself but also about maintaining meaningful connections with the people around you.
Finding balance every day
Lahr encouraged people to use National Wellness Month as an opportunity to evaluate all aspects of their health, not just physical fitness.
He said small steps, such as reducing distractions and strengthening relationships, can make a meaningful difference in overall well-being.
